Proud of 107,000 - Why change that?

[NittanyLionRoar]

James Franklin and Sandy Barbour like to tout the greatness of having 107,000 fans cheering on the football team. For how often they cite this as a reason for PSU football greatness, then why does Barbour want to decrease it? The reason that there aren't always butts in seats has to do with systemic ticketing problems...especially in the student section. Fix that and find the equilibrium point for ticket prices and you will fill every single seat every game.

Just to be clear, I do not have the same disdain for Barbour as a lot here...I don't want this to be a thread bashing her. I haven't seen what her hiring decisions are like, but she is passionate, on the field cheering every game, very supportive of our players and coaches, and active within her department.

 

[PSUArnie]

James Franklin and Sandy Barbour like to tout the greatness of having 107,000 fans cheering on the football team. For how often they cite this as a reason for PSU football greatness, then why does Barbour want to decrease it? The reason that there aren't always butts in seats has to do with systemic ticketing problems...especially in the student section. Fix that and find the equilibrium point for ticket prices and you will fill every single seat every game.

Just to be clear, I do not have the same disdain for Barbour as a lot here...I don't want this to be a thread bashing her. I haven't seen what her hiring decisions are like, but she is passionate, on the field cheering every game, very supportive of our players and coaches, and active within her department.

The students are part of the problem obviously but I don't come to near as many games as I have in the past because hotel prices have simply gotten out of control. No longer interested in dropping $1500 (lodging, tickets etc etc) for a weekend unless it's a marquee match up.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I don't think the primary goal is to have fewer people attend games in person. This is a likely side affect to improving the comfort/experience for those fans who are attending. If they want to give more chair back seats in the existing footprint, then there will be less seats overall. Although I don't think it is the goal, reducing the number of seats will have the benefit of creating more demand and improve the odds that games against less exciting opponents will be sell outs.

Also, I don't really think there is nearly as much cachet for having 107K as there is for having a truly electric environment. Sure, 100k is better than 80k, but I don't think that there is a noticeable difference between 107k and 100k (Sandy has said that it will remain above 100k).

I wish there was something they could do to improve the efficiency/timeliness of getting the students into the stadium. Maybe more gates, larger ramps, allow them to start coming in earlier?

 

[NittanyLion15]

James Franklin and Sandy Barbour like to tout the greatness of having 107,000 fans cheering on the football team. For how often they cite this as a reason for PSU football greatness, then why does Barbour want to decrease it? The reason that there aren't always butts in seats has to do with systemic ticketing problems...especially in the student section. Fix that and find the equilibrium point for ticket prices and you will fill every single seat every game.

Just to be clear, I do not have the same disdain for Barbour as a lot here...I don't want this to be a thread bashing her. I haven't seen what her hiring decisions are like, but she is passionate, on the field cheering every game, very supportive of our players and coaches, and active within her department.

We finish the season 10-2, and beat a ranked opponent in New Years Day bowl, we finish the season no worse than top 12. When you look at the number of starters we have returning, there's a very good chance we could be preseason top 10 next year.

(Yes I know the preseason polls are crap, but they serve their purpose: sell newspapers, tickets, magazines, create a buzz... that will certainly work in our favor next year)

I have to think, the energy surrounding our football program heading into 2017, will lead to the sale of the empty seats we've seen for the last 5 years. To me, the empty seats are an eyesore, but you have to be impressed by the resiliency of our fanbase through everything we've been through. The fact that we've averaged about 100k per game, in a stadium that holds 106,572 through the 5 years since the sanctions is note worthy.

(I'll get blasted that we didn't actually draw those numbers, which is probably true, however the seats WERE sold.)

I think moving the visiting section to the nosebleeds of the north upper deck has hurt attendance overall. When the visiting team doesn't sell their allotment, the seats that are released to the market are crap, and folks opt to go to secondary markets to purchase tickets. In years before STEP, the last 15 rows in all sections in the north upper deck were season ticket holders.

Barber has done a good job so far, but you have to be leery of her track record. She basically drove CAL into the ground financially through renovation projects... I'll hold my breath as we wait for her master plan to overhaul multiple facilities at Penn State.

All in all, the Beav needs a facelift. If we lose a few thousand seats it's not the end of the world.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

James Franklin and Sandy Barbour like to tout the greatness of having 107,000 fans cheering on the football team. For how often they cite this as a reason for PSU football greatness, then why does Barbour want to decrease it? The reason that there aren't always butts in seats has to do with systemic ticketing problems...especially in the student section. Fix that and find the equilibrium point for ticket prices and you will fill every single seat every game.

Just to be clear, I do not have the same disdain for Barbour as a lot here...I don't want this to be a thread bashing her. I haven't seen what her hiring decisions are like, but she is passionate, on the field cheering every game, very supportive of our players and coaches, and active within her department.

I wish I could give you 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 "LIKES".

Reducing the size of that stadium would be beyond brain dead. You can say what you want about Camp Randall, but those extra 27,000 people we had last week did what the 80,000 at Camp Randall couldn't. Disrupted Ohio State's offense to a point where they were stuck in complete mud.

Two years ago, it took the team that won the National Championship into Overtime, and except for two blown calls, would have actually won the game.

Every single person that screams might be that potential increased decibel we need to disrupt an offense.

Just one thing about those TEMPORARY chair back seats. They are the most uncomfortable pieces of garbage I have ever sat in. I'll take the bleachers over those things any day of the week.

 

[JonZ]

James Franklin and Sandy Barbour like to tout the greatness of having 107,000 fans cheering on the football team. For how often they cite this as a reason for PSU football greatness, then why does Barbour want to decrease it? The reason that there aren't always butts in seats has to do with systemic ticketing problems...especially in the student section. Fix that and find the equilibrium point for ticket prices and you will fill every single seat every game.

Just to be clear, I do not have the same disdain for Barbour as a lot here...I don't want this to be a thread bashing her. I haven't seen what her hiring decisions are like, but she is passionate, on the field cheering every game, very supportive of our players and coaches, and active within her department.

I usually stick to posting about wrestling and volleyball, but I thought that several years ago when PennState was discussing renovating the press box, we were told that they would raise the press box when it was renovated to the same level as the suite side of the stadium and then they would be able to add about 4000 more sideline seats.

 

[Nitt1300]

When I was a student the capacity was something like 55,000. We've had two "major" and several minor expansions since. Have any of them really made for a "better" experience? I don't think so.

Winning- and doing it the right way- is what built the program. The rest is window dressing.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

When I was a student the capacity was something like 55,000. We've had two "major" and several minor expansions since. Have any of them really made for a "better" experience? I don't think so.

Winning- and doing it the right way- is what built the program. The rest is window dressing.

Are you kidding???? That place used to sound like a morgue. The experience now is a gazillion times better.

 

[Nitt1300]

Are you kidding???? That place used to sound like a morgue. The experience now is a gazillion times better.

It's louder- that's not the same as better.

Four year record for my time there was 11-0, 11-0, 7-3, 11-1 - THAT was better.

 

[psu00]

I usually stick to posting about wrestling and volleyball, but I thought that several years ago when PennState was discussing renovating the press box, we were told that they would raise the press box when it was renovated to the same level as the suite side of the stadium and then they would be able to add about 4000 more sideline seats.

That was the previous plan for the next step in renovations. A new press box was to be built and, at the same time, they would add a few rows on the west stands to make it the same height as the east stands. If they did that it would offset some losses of seats due to chair backs. I don't know if that's still the case in this new renovation plan (that's taking forever to be released to the public ).

 

[Cletus11]

Sandy Barbour is an administrator. Administrators always want more power. How do you get more power, you add people to your department and you undertake large projects as both of those allow you to gain more power. Beaver Stadium doesn't need to be Jerrydome and have luxury items, they won't ever pay for themselves in the long run. Beaver stadium needs to cosmetic renovations to the bathrooms and concessions to upgrade them somewhat to more modern standards. The seats have been like they have for the last 30+ years and somehow that was fine, they don't need changing. Close in the pressbox side similiar to the opposite to get more luxury boxes for $$$$.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

It's louder- that's not the same as better.

Four year record for my time there was 11-0, 11-0, 7-3, 11-1 - THAT was better.

If you think we would have been at all competitive with Ohio State this year and two years ago in the stadium as it was configured then with only only 55,000 fans, I have some nice green property on the Moon to sell you. This ain't the 1968/1969 version of the Nittany Lions.

 

[NittanyLion15]

It's louder- that's not the same as better.

Four year record for my time there was 11-0, 11-0, 7-3, 11-1 - THAT was better.

The dark years of 00-04 were what created the environment we have today. I think a lot of our fans were weeded out, and the people who still came through those years saw a lot of ugly football. I was one of them.

Our fan base then realized they can make an impact, and started to.

I've always thought we stumbled into "the dark years" because the game changed, and it took Paterno 5 years to catch up with it. Back in the 1990s we simply out-recruited everyone by snatching up the majority of the talent in the Northeast and then ran 75% our opposition into the ground.

I think a big reason for that was due to the fact that In the 90s you really started seeing high schools all over the country dumping 100's of thousands of dollars into their facilities and it created an environment where there were many many more quality kids being developed. Everyone said recruiting was to blame for 00-04 but I'm not sure our recruiting ever dipped that much, there was just a lot more talent out there.

Que Galen Hall arriving in 04 to revamp the Penn State offense and the resurgence of Penn State football. The old guy proved he could still coach, and put together a staff to do it. Loved being a part of that!

My four year record for my time there: 11-1, 8-4, 9-4, 11-2. 2 Big Ten titles, and we were one or two plays away from playing for a national title both my Freshman and Senior year.

 

[VaNtyLion]

I think people need to realize (and many ADs have said this) the "arms race" to see who can have the biggest capacity is a thing of the past. It's more about fan experience now - Michigan taking out 5-7k seats is proof enough of this. Beaver Stadium could use some work from the exterior to the piping for starters.... but given that it's only used 8 or 9 times each year tops, it's easy to overlook this.

I'll withhold any judgement on a renovation plan until that plan is fully revealed, but I don't see any mention or rumor of some drastic reduction in capacity.

Few schools have done as good of a job with its athletic facilities as PSU has, and they're taking the time to plan properly with all variables....so have some faith in the process.

Taking the capacity from 107k to even something like 100k (for example) is not going to have any adverse impact on game day atmosphere. PSU had one of the best winning % of any program in the 1990s and that came in front of 97k.

 

[NittanyLion15]

I think people need to realize (and many ADs have said this) the "arms race" to see who can have the biggest capacity is a thing of the past. It's more about fan experience now - Michigan taking out 5-7k seats is proof enough of this. Beaver Stadium could use some work from the exterior to the piping for starters.... but given that it's only used 8 or 9 times each year tops, it's easy to overlook this.

I'll withhold any judgement on a renovation plan until that plan is fully revealed, but I don't see any mention or rumor of some drastic reduction in capacity.

Few schools have done as good of a job with its athletic facilities as PSU has, and they're taking the time to plan properly with all variables....so have some faith in the process.

Taking the capacity from 107k to even something like 100k (for example) is not going to have any adverse impact on game day atmosphere. PSU had one of the best winning % of any program in the 1990s and that came in front of 97k.

It would be cool if they could configure the stadium in a way that allows it to be expandable for big games. Something like standing room only, or bleacher seats in certain areas on the concourse halfway up.

This would eliminate the eye sore for the Kent States, but allow 108k+ for Ohio States.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

It would be cool if they could configure the stadium in a way that allows it to be expandable for big games. Something like standing room only, or bleacher seats in certain areas on the concourse halfway up.

This would eliminate the eye sore for the Kent States, but allow 108k+ for Ohio States.

Why have standing room when we can already sit????? I don't mind standing the whole game, but I want someplace to set my drink, binoculars, or coat, and I don't want to have to fight someone for viewing position the whole game.

Let me come back and edit this just a little bit. If you meant keeping the seating as is, and adding ADDITTIONAL areas for SRO, selling those tickets on a game by game basis, I might actually be all for that. Actually INCREASING total capacity back up to 110,000 or above again.

But I wouldn't get rid of any of the EXISTING seats.

 

[BlueBand]

The dark years of 00-04 were what created the environment we have today. I think a lot of our fans were weeded out, and the people who still came through those years saw a lot of ugly football. I was one of them.

Our fan base then realized they can make an impact, and started to.

I've always thought we stumbled into "the dark years" because the game changed, and it took Paterno 5 years to catch up with it. Back in the 1990s we simply out-recruited everyone by snatching up the majority of the talent in the Northeast and then ran 75% our opposition into the ground.

I think a big reason for that was due to the fact that In the 90s you really started seeing high schools all over the country dumping 100's of thousands of dollars into their facilities and it created an environment where there were many many more quality kids being developed. Everyone said recruiting was to blame for 00-04 but I'm not sure our recruiting ever dipped that much, there was just a lot more talent out there.

Que Galen Hall arriving in 04 to revamp the Penn State offense and the resurgence of Penn State football. The old guy proved he could still coach, and put together a staff to do it. Loved being a part of that!

My four year record for my time there: 11-1, 8-4, 9-4, 11-2. 2 Big Ten titles, and we were one or two plays away from playing for a national title both my Freshman and Senior year.

The game changed, but don't discount the affect of scholarship limits. It took a few years on the field, as "lesser" programs gradually picked up better players, slowly became more competitive, which in turn allowed them to attract better players with more parity.

Prior to 1973, there were no limits. In 1973 it was capped at 105. In 1978 it dropped to 95 and in 1992 it dropped to the current 85. Top teams couldn't stockpile talent nearly as much, which allows them to just line up and dare you to beat them (our approach in many years). Simple offensive game plans worked because you could out talent the other team.

It also meant you could make fewer mistakes in recruiting.

Of course, this also lead to the processing we see at many schools now.

 

[kgilbert78]

Few schools have done as good of a job with its athletic facilities as PSU has, and they're taking the time to plan properly with all variables....so have some faith in the process.

I'd have to disagree with the first part of this statement. I think we've been going on the cheap a bit there as well. One case in point--the Natatorium. Lack of improvements cost us a very good coach--who went to tOSU. And, it's been begging for a fix for some decades now. Jeffery Field does not have locker rooms (they are working on that). There are other examples.

We're not horrible in our facilitates--but we're not top of the pile either.

Mind you, I'm not freaking out and I am waiting to see what the process will bring.

 

[VaNtyLion]

I'd have to disagree with the first part of this statement. I think we've been going on the cheap a bit there as well. One case in point--the Natatorium. Lack of improvements cost us a very good coach--who went to tOSU. And, it's been begging for a fix for some decades now. Jeffery Field does not have locker rooms (they are working on that). There are other examples.

We're not horrible in our facilitates--but we're not top of the pile either.

Mind you, I'm not freaking out and I am waiting to see what the process will bring.

I didn't necessarily say all facilities are up to date but with 29 varsity sports to support our facilities are extremely well regarded. Sure some of this is due to generosity of donors for a specific sport but at least according to Princeton Review, PSU has best athletic facilities in the country

http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-athletic-facilities

 

[BlueBand]

I'd have to disagree with the first part of this statement. I think we've been going on the cheap a bit there as well. One case in point--the Natatorium. Lack of improvements cost us a very good coach--who went to tOSU. And, it's been begging for a fix for some decades now. Jeffery Field does not have locker rooms (they are working on that). There are other examples.

We're not horrible in our facilitates--but we're not top of the pile either.

Mind you, I'm not freaking out and I am waiting to see what the process will bring.

Agree. We have not kept up with facilities improvements in MANY sports. Standards have changed in the last 10-15 years. Just like Lasch went from state of the art, to just average at best.

This, IMHO, is why we're going into sticker shock with STEP (and I'm leaving out the horrible rollout). I think we underpriced tickets for a number of years compared to other programs, and we had a great football coach working on the cheap. We either a.) should have been investing in facilities more while we had a "underpriced" coach, or b.) should have been saving money hand over fist for when Joe left. It appears we did neither, so unless we somehow squandered the money, it would appear we did not maximize revenue the last 10+ years Joe was coaching.

 

[PSUSignore]

The students are part of the problem obviously but I don't come to near as many games as I have in the past because hotel prices have simply gotten out of control. No longer interested in dropping $1500 (lodging, tickets etc etc) for a weekend unless it's a marquee match up.

Agreed, it's about the total cost to attend, particularly if you are coming in from outside PA. I'd have to pay for a flight, hotel, game tix, etc. When you add it all up it could cost thousands for a big game. For the same price I'm about to go on a 2 week overseas vacation. Which is a better ROI on my hard-earned money? I'll watch more games on TV.

 

[BlueBand]

I didn't necessarily say all facilities are up to date but with 29 varsity sports to support our facilities are extremely well regarded. Sure some of this is due to generosity of donors for a specific sport but at least according to Princeton Review, PSU has best athletic facilities in the country

http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-athletic-facilities

Your first clue that the Princeton Review list is NOT what you think it is, should have been that Purdue is ranked #2. That list is facilities for the student body, like the IM building. Not student athletes.

 

[kgilbert78]

I didn't necessarily say all facilities are up to date but with 29 varsity sports to support our facilities are extremely well regarded. Sure some of this is due to generosity of donors for a specific sport but at least according to Princeton Review, PSU has best athletic facilities in the country

http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-athletic-facilities

They haven't been to tOSU then. Seriously. I did a lot of minor sports photography as a volunteer for PSU ca. 2005-2011 here in Columbus, so I got to see a lot of their facilities.

 

[VaNtyLion]

Your first clue that the Princeton Review list is NOT what you think it is, should have been that Purdue is ranked #2. That list is facilities for the student body, like the IM building. Not student athletes.

Fair enough.

My point remains though. 29 sports to support, there will be some facilities in some level of need to be renovated or replaced almost regularly. Off the top of my head though, and looking at the list of facilities for all programs, is there a single one other than McCoy that we can say is in major need of upgrade?

 

[NittanyLion15]

Why have standing room when we can already sit????? I don't mind standing the whole game, but I want someplace to set my drink, binoculars, or coat, and I don't want to have to fight someone for viewing position the whole game.

Let me come back and edit this just a little bit. If you meant keeping the seating as is, and adding ADDITTIONAL areas for SRO, selling those tickets on a game by game basis, I might actually be all for that. Actually INCREASING total capacity back up to 110,000 or above again.

But I wouldn't get rid of any of the EXISTING seats.

BOOM, yes ADDITIONAL.

Nationals park did a good job with this here in DC. Around the entire concourse there are standing tables set up for folks who buy SRO tickets. It works great.

We would have to DRASTICALLY increase the width of the concourse at the Beav tho. It would be a nightmare if they didn't. It's already crazy on the second tier concourses during pregame, the half, and after the game.

 

[BlueBand]

Fair enough.

My point remains though. 29 sports to support, there will be some facilities in some level of need to be renovated or replaced almost regularly. Off the top of my head though, and looking at the list of facilities for all programs, is there a single one other than McCoy that we can say is in major need of upgrade?

That's what the master plan is for. Jeffrey Field needs lots of updates for one. I don't think the lacrosse updates were ever finished. Not sure about wrestling... when was the last update there? Ditto for volleyball.

 

[Art]

They haven't been to tOSU then. Seriously. I did a lot of minor sports photography as a volunteer for PSU ca. 2005-2011 here in Columbus, so I got to see a lot of their facilities.

They ((Princeton Review) haven't been anywhere. They rank athletic facilities based on responses in student questionnaire.

 

[Art]

I'm sorry for continuing the hijacking of this thread, but how is Sandy an unmitigated fail? What exactly has she "failed" at in her job? You (and others) may not like her, maybe she is paid more than you think she deserves, maybe you think that there are too many Assistant AD positions, but I can't think of anywhere that she "failed". I'm not saying that she's the AD of the century, just calling you out for the over the top criticism.

Fair question. Let's judge Screwface by her accomplishments. Were the Lasch renovation and Morgan projects fully funded by private donations as promised? Beyond that, what else has she done in two years plus?

 

[Ranger Dan]

Fair question. Let's judge Screwface by her accomplishments. Were the Lasch renovation and Morgan projects fully funded by private donations as promised? Beyond that, what else has she done in two years plus?

I'm not trying to sell her to anyone, but simply asking for examples of failure, let alone unmitigated failure. I don't pretend to know everything... do you submit the Lasch renovation and Morgan projects as failures? If so, why are they a failure? I thank you in advance for your explanation.

 

[Art]

I'm not trying to sell her to anyone, but simply asking for examples of failure, let alone unmitigated failure. I don't pretend to know everything... do you submit the Lasch renovation and Morgan projects as failures? If so, why are they a failure? I thank you in advance for your explanation.

Morgan and Lasch would be failures to the extent they were not funded by private donations, which was presented in the run ups to the projects. I can't say that they are, but I'm not handing out gold stars until that question is answered.

I'm troubled by the actions of an athletic director who seems to have no reservations about spending money in an environment where overall surpluses are down and future revenue streams re difficult to predict. That demonstrates a lack of financial discipline. Couple that with her performance at Cal and only a lunatic gives her control of the checkbook.

And BTW, weren't we promised an overview of the facilities master plan by the end of October?

 

[hagberg]

I think moving the visiting section to the nosebleeds of the north upper deck has hurt attendance overall. When the visiting team doesn't sell their allotment, the seats that are released to the market are crap, and folks opt to go to secondary markets to purchase tickets. In years before STEP, the last 15 rows in all sections in the north upper deck were season ticket holders.

The worst part of moving the visiting section is it took away from the unique "wave noise:"

.....yaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyBOOOOyaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.......

 

[NittanyLion15]

The worst part of moving the visiting section is it took away from the unique "wave noise:"

.....yaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyBOOOOyaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.......

There's still a good chunk to boo at...

 

[Ranger Dan]

You asking for "info" again?

Do you really think there is any point to you willfully choosing to remain ignorant.....one more time?

Kinda' like a blind man asking for a "closer look"

LMAO.....gotta' give ya' credit, you're shameless

____________


'Tell me - honestly: on any of the previous half-dozen (at least) times that all of that information was provided - - - did you actually read it?
If you did - explain to me, even in the most basic layman terms, the Barbour plan for financing the Cal capital projects......and compare the main points to her work this far at PSU. I will eagerly await your learned response ..... LOL.

What is it that compels those who insist on remaining ignorant, to do so with such conviction? You'd think every day was a Presidential election "

Today at 7:47 AM

Dude, I never once asked you for information about anything. Not once. Also, I don't remember posting virtually anything about Sandy Barbour, other than some casual comment or whatever. I'm not a fan or an enemy of hers. I also don't follow the inner workings of the Penn State or Cal Athletic Departments, budgeting or otherwise, beyond what I see here via osmosis. I generally stay away from the posts with in depth scrutiny of the Administration and Athletic department. I am a fan of Penn State athletics, not someone trying to become a member of the BOT. You were the one who said that she was an unmitigated failure and I was merely asking for examples of why you have come to this conclusion.It seems like a simple thing to answer, especially if her failure is so plain to see.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Morgan and Lasch would be failures to the extent they were not funded by private donations, which was presented in the run ups to the projects. I can't say that they are, but I'm not handing out gold stars until that question is answered.

I'm troubled by the actions of an athletic director who seems to have no reservations about spending money in an environment where overall surpluses are down and future revenue streams re difficult to predict. That demonstrates a lack of financial discipline. Couple that with her performance at Cal and only a lunatic gives her control of the checkbook.

And BTW, weren't we promised an overview of the facilities master plan by the end of October?

Fair enough. As I said, I'm not defending Sandy... I just asked for examples of her failure. While not disputing your assertions, I would suggest that they may be examples of less than desired results as opposed to "unmitigated failure". Maybe the jury is still out.

 

[doctornick]

I'm not trying to sell her to anyone, but simply asking for examples of failure, let alone unmitigated failure. I don't pretend to know everything... do you submit the Lasch renovation and Morgan projects as failures? If so, why are they a failure? I thank you in advance for your explanation.

Of course, we would have had an extra $12M per year available to spend in the athletic budget if it weren't for the bogus $60M NCAA "fine".

 

[PSU_Nut]

. The seats have been like they have for the last 30+ years and somehow that was fine, they don't need changing.

You do realize the people who have been going to games the past 30 years are dying off? You have to appeal to the newer generation of fans who don't want to sit on 18' metal bleachers. They don't want to go bathroom in a crappy restroom that floods when it rains. They don't want to eat stale pretzels and lousy chicken tenders. Thirty years ago you weren't competing against every game being on tv. You weren't competing against people having big screen tvs in every house. Like or not you have to cater to the younger fan base.

 

[UNCPSUFAN]

James Franklin and Sandy Barbour like to tout the greatness of having 107,000 fans cheering on the football team. For how often they cite this as a reason for PSU football greatness, then why does Barbour want to decrease it? The reason that there aren't always butts in seats has to do with systemic ticketing problems...especially in the student section. Fix that and find the equilibrium point for ticket prices and you will fill every single seat every game.

Just to be clear, I do not have the same disdain for Barbour as a lot here...I don't want this to be a thread bashing her. I haven't seen what her hiring decisions are like, but she is passionate, on the field cheering every game, very supportive of our players and coaches, and active within her department.

Agree to a point, but really think 95K is what is needed to fill the Beav each week. Heck, we had plenty of empty seats for the OSU game two weeks ago. Nice to have 107K but cannot fill it consistently.

 

[YorkLion]

It would be nice to see a filled stadium. They are getting very creative with ways to fill the Beav. As long as they insist on cramped seats, I'll just enjoy the game from the comfort of our rec room.

 

[94LionsFan]

Agree to a point, but really think 95K is what is needed to fill the Beav each week. Heck, we had plenty of empty seats for the OSU game two weeks ago. Nice to have 107K but cannot fill it consistently.

I don't understand why we're contemplating downsizing the seating capacity when we're coming off the worst sanctions in CFB history (which came on the heels of a coach -- as much as I admired him -- who was "hanging on" for several years). We're on an upward trajectory now and aren't yet back to where we all think we should be. I'm of the opinion that there's a lot of "fair weather" fans who will fill those empty seats if we're a perennial top 20 team again. I mean, the day after the OSU win I had a friend who was on the fence about coming to the Iowa game text me to say he now definitely wanted my extra ticket. And I'm sure he's not the only one like that.

 

[kgilbert78]

I don't understand why we're contemplating downsizing the seating capacity when we're coming off the worst sanctions in CFB history (which came on the heels of a coach -- as much as I admired him -- who was "hanging on" for several years). We're on an upward trajectory now and aren't yet back to where we all think we should be. I'm of the opinion that there's a lot of "fair weather" fans who will fill those empty seats if we're a perennial top 20 team again. I mean, the day after the OSU win I had a friend who was on the fence about coming to the Iowa game text me to say he now definitely wanted my extra ticket. And I'm sure he's not the only one like that.

We were not getting regular sellouts before 2011. Big games? Sure. Lesser lights? Not so much--and they are a decent sized portion of the season--if not more than half. We were getting around 100K. That's a reasonable size to shoot for--say 100,409 (not that the admin would choose *that* number). Both Michigan and tOSU have done this with their recent renovations. I'm willing to sacrifice a little size for a little more quality. One way they did that, without raising prices too much, were to add some more boxes. You could do that on the north (like what was done on the south side) or as part of a pressbox redo (which is also needed).

Given that parts of the stadium do go back to before 1960, it's about time for some renovations. I'd also fix the student section situation--which seems to be largely due to a bad entrance situation. That's fixable.